Financial help for new mothers

[janietreemore]

Could someone please explain what happens when you have a first baby and take maternity leave?
You obviously get around £26 a week in child benefit, but would someone on maternity leave earning just half her salary stay on the same tax code or is there a tax break that goes with having a child?
I'm trying to help a dyslexic mum to be plan ahead, but can't work it out either. She normally earns around 70K so maternity leave will be 35K, and it isn't clear yet how much if anything the dad will contribute.
Thank you.

You'll need to know things like the mat leave policy - how long will she be on 50% pay, when does it go down to statutory, and how long she plans to be off for.

Thanks for responding. She's allowed to be off six months on half pay and will probably
go back after that.
I also wonder if having a child changes your tax code.

Her tax code won’t change because she has a child but dropping to 50% of her salary for 6 months will reduce her effective tax rate as less of her salary is taxed at the higher rate. In fact, she might fall below the 40% bracket if her salary for the tax year is less than £50,271.

Is she in a relationship with the dad and how much does he earn?

He needs to contribute either way, she must not let him see it as optional and if they're together they need to both save now to cover her loss of earnings, also increased costs when they need to pay for childcare.

She will probably have to repay some of the CB if she goes back to work full time but that depends on how much she contributes to a pension.

Thank you @Bjorkdidit and @Moneypennywise
That's helpful to be aware of the tax situation and maybe being asked to pay back some CB.
It's an unplanned pregnancy in a very new relationship. The future dad is a young self employed builder. Future mum doesn't know how much he earns on average, he just tells her it is very irregular. She's hoping to move in with him but he hasn't actually said he will. He might live with her and pitch in properly with the bills or he might stay with his mum, declare he's on very low earnings and pay the minimum. Hopefully he'll step up, but either way she needs to know what her income will be in case it is hard getting a significant contribution from him.